"Walking Disaster" by Jamie McGuire

"Even though we'd put each other through hell, we'd found heaven. Maybe that was more than a couple of sinners deserved, but I wasn't going to complain."
-Jamie McGuire, Walking Disaster

After months of impatiently waiting, Walking Disaster was finally released this week. Naturally, I stayed awake until midnight, just to make sure it downloaded to my Kindle. I read one chapter then fell asleep. I know: only one chapter?? I was tired!!

I didn't really know much about this sequel except for the fact that it was not going to be through Abby's point of view like Beautiful Disaster. It was going to be in Travis's point of view. I didn't know if the story was going to pick up from where Beautiful Disaster left off, or if it was going to just be the same story but told by him. I quickly found out that it was the latter.

Needless to say, I don't need to give you a summary! You can read my review about Beautiful Disaster for that! Also, you can watch this fun video (click here) of a scene from Walking Disaster! The two people in the video have not read the book, so they acted it out as if they were on Whose Line Is It Anyway? making the video pretty fun to watch! Now don't be discouraged from reading this sequel! To be honest, I was hoping for a continuation of the story; however, I was incredibly pleased with what McGuire did with this book. When I read the first book, I remember constantly wondering what Travis was thinking. Well, now I know! It adds so much color to the story!

Even though I knew the basic story line, the book still had me gasping, and I never wanted to put it down! Seeing everything through Travis's perspective put things in a whole new light. I honestly can't decide which version I liked better! Now that I have finished both of them, everything just seems to fit and flow into one big story.

We all fell in love with Travis and his bad-boy image, his tattoos, and his complete devotion to Abby in Beautiful Disaster. Well, brace yourself, ladies, you will fall much farther and harder this time around! Seeing Travis the way Abby sees him is one thing, but getting to know the depths of who Travis is, is another.

Jamie McGuire is one of those author's that creates the guy that all the girls want, making it hard for guys in the real world. Sorry, boys, but you've got to step it up if you even want to compare to Travis Maddox. Honestly, I don't believe that many guys think the way Travis does in the book. Who knows, maybe there are guys out there that go to the flower store and decide that one bouquet is not enough, so they buy enough to fill an entire room. Maybe there are guys out there that see a girl and think, "The fall clouds cast a gray shadow over everything, but [her] smile was like summertime" (Travis, Walking Disaster). Maybe. Maybe not. McGuire did a great job as a female author, though! The mood is so different in Travis's book than in Abby's. No woman will ever REALLY know what is going on in a man's head, but I will definitely give her credit, because this book is phenomenal!

It's always interesting to see love stories through the guy's point of view; however, those stories are often written by female authors. It would be great to know what is ACTUALLY going on in a guy's mind. So, feel free to write that for us, fellas!

Walking Disaster is a refreshing addition to its prequel, and the epilogue provides good closure for the readers. And what a great ending! I did not expect that to be the turn out!

 So, Jamie McGuire fans, what did you think? Leave your comments here!

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"Beautiful Disaster" by Jamie McGuire

"I knew the second I met you that there was something about you I needed. Turns out it wasn't something about you at all. It was just you."
-Jamie McGuire, Beautiful Disaster

Being a writer and, of course, a reader, I hate to judge a book by its cover; however, I know that the cover should bring in a potential reader. Walking aimlessly through Books A Million one night last fall, I was desperate for something to read. I continued to walk by a paperback book that was gray and dull with a butterfly captured in a jar. I had never heard of this book or even the author for that matter. Something about this book was pulling me in already because the cover was unique enough to make me wonder what made the disaster beautiful. So, I read the back of the book and instantly wanted to know the story of Abby Abernathy.

Beautiful Disaster is absolutely a perfect title for this book. It gives the hint to the main plot in the story. Abby is the "good girl" tagging along with her best friend, America, and America's boyfriend, Shepley, when she meets him: Travis. Although this seems like the typical storyline of running into true love spontaneously, it's not. Travis is in the middle of fight ring and winning. He spots her in the crowd and stops the fight just to talk to her. Not impressed, she doesn't swoon over him, which is completely opposite from the majority of the other girls. Seeing her reaction as a challenge to win her over, he makes a bet with her: if he loses the fight, he will abstain from sex for an entire month, but if he wins, she has to stay at his place for that month.

Travis is the "bad boy" that all girls (good or bad) basically drool over. He is muscular, he has the tattoos, he puts on the "Mr. Cool" attitude, and he loves having a good time. Not to mention, he is nice to just look at. Abby knows she needs to be anywhere but with him. Nothing good can come from hanging around Travis Maddox. THE Travis Maddox. Oh, she has the heard the stories around her college campus, and she needed to stay away. Far away.

Obviously, he wins the fight. Travis - Mad Dog - Maddox doesn't lose fights. Looks like Abby is moving out of the dorm for a month and in with Travis. I'm not giving anything away, don't worry. If he lost the fight, that wouldn't be much of a story now would it? It's what happens and changes in the lives of Abby and Travis that really makes the reader fall head-over-heels for this book. It's not the average love story.

I've recommended this book to...well everyone when the opportunity presented itself. The ones who read it finished it within a day or two. It's just THAT good! Beautiful Disaster is simply an incredible, passionate, intriguing page-turner! Jamie McGuire really knows how to make the reader feel what Abby feels and brings the reader to care for her, as well. Her writing is the perfect amount of descriptive. Also, I loved the reality of the book. By "reality" I mean it's not an unrealistic romance novel like a Nicholas Sparks piece. Don't get me wrong, Sparks writes beautiful books, but it gives girls very high expectations. McGuire, however, created a male role that is not perfect. He makes mistakes, gets angry, and is definitely no prince charming. He is a real character. Never does he use fancy poetic words, he just talks as anyone else would. It's so easy to relate to the book.

Now, if I have young followers, I would not recommend this book for you. It is a mature book. There is language, as well as sexual content. Once you are older, though, it's definitely worth the read!

The sequel, Walking Disaster,  is just as intriguing! It is the same story, but through Travis's point of view! Because I loved Beautiful Disaster so much, I literally waited up until midnight for Walking Disaster's release, and I began reading it the second it downloaded to my Kindle. (I pre-ordered it, of course)! So, as soon as you read Beautiful Disaster, make sure to read Walking Disaster! You won't want to miss it!

Hopefully, this has sparked your interest enough to purchase and read Beautiful Disaster as well as Jamie McGuire's other books. (I've read them as well...BRILLIANT!) Feel free to leave your comments, questions, opinions, and remarks right here on the blog, or LIKE the Drunk On Books Facebook page (CLICK HERE) and leave your thoughts there! I'd love to hear feed back! If you have a book suggestion, don't hesitate to let me know! I will read and review a requested book.